Perhaps it is the challenge that Radio 4's Today programme needs - Channel 4 are planning a rival news show, if, and its a big if, they win the digital multiplex licence.
C4's head of news and current affairs, Dorothy Byrne, told Broadcast that Channel 4 is planning to launch a rival to the sacred cow of morning news, using the resources of its TV news service and presenters such as Jon Snow and Sarah Smith (although that sounds like a pretty long day for an evening news TV presenter).
Byrne said: "When I listen to the Today programme I feel I suddenly enter the world of a middle-aged man from Bournemouth with a strong interest in bird-watching whose wife wears cashmere twinsets and is active in the bowling club. They are interested mainly in Britain and their world is a very threatening and scary place."
Does this mean that Radio Channel 4's world will be less scary?
The daily show will be part of C4's consortium bid to Ofcom for the new national radio multiplex. The show would launch in 2008 - giving the BBC plenty of opportunity to revamp the Today show (and anger a multitude of R4 listeners in the process, because they love nothing better than change).
